Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day is September 9th. At 9:09 a.m. on September 9th, bells will ring out across America to bring awareness to this 100 percent preventable disorder.

When a pregnant mother drinks alcohol she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price in mental and physical deficiencies for his or her entire life. There is no cure for it and children do not outgrow it. FASD is the leading cause of mental retardation in western civilization.

To prevent FASD expectant mothers must simply abstain from all use of alcohol for their entire 9 months.

Susan Kerber

Tahoe City